What the heck happened at the Wells Fargo Center? Sixers even series at 2-2
How the Sixers pulled out a win Friday night against the Boston Celtics is hard to explain. They did a complete turnaround in the second half - and so did the Celtics.
What the heck happened at the Wells Fargo Center? Sixers even series at 2-2
Bob Cooney
There was a common sight in both the Sixers and Celtics locker room, throughout the hallways of the Wells Fargo Center and in the media room. It was a look of "what the hell just happened?" as writers scrambled to meet deadline while coaches and players tried to decipher what took place over the 48 minutes on the court.
If this game was a boxing match, the Sixers were not only on the ropes after the first half, they had been knocked down almost to the point of stoppage. But the Sixers withstood the haymakers and returned to land even more of their own as they somehow took a 92-83 decision from Boston and evened the Eastern Conference semifinal series at 2-2. Game 5 will be Monday in Boston at 7 p.m.
The Celtics barrage started with a 14-0 run to begin the game. The Sixers didn't score their first basket until nearly four minutes had been played. They scored just 12 points after the first, missing all but three of their 16 shots. The only reason the second quarter was a little bit better for the home team was because it couldn't have gotten worse, really.
At the break the Celtics led by 46-31, and really it was lucky to be that close for the Sixers. There seemed little to grab onto in the way of hope. The starters, not including Jrue Holiday's 4-for-6, combined to shoot 2-for-22. Key subs Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams combined for one field goal. The team missed 8 of its 21 fould shots.
And as much as the Celtics were dominating, they were smack talking. As one player told me in the Sixers locker room after the game, that went a long way into the Sixers' second half surge.
It started in a fiesty third quarter, during which a pair of double-technicals were called. That seemed to help fuel the Sixers, who outscored the Celtics by 28-17, limiting Boston to 5-of-18 from the floor in closing the gap to 69-53 after three.
"We started expending more energy, started making shots," said Thaddeus Young of the third quarter effort. "Lou (Williams) got it going and then were were getting in transition and getting stops on defense."
It was only the beginning to the end.
The crazy fourth quarter, in which the Sixers outscored Boston by 33-20, featured 8 ties and 7 lead changes. But the craziest thing of all, the biggest question left after the game had to be the limited presence of center Kevin Garnet in the fourth.
On the first play to begin the final 12 minutes, the Celtics dumped the ball down to Garnett, who missed a four-footer. He made his only other shot of the quarter, about four minutes later. For some reason, Boston decided to shoot mostly from the outside in the fourth. Part of it was the defense of Lavoy Allen on Garnett. Most of it was because the Celtics decided they loved jump shooting. It didn't work.
Meanwhile, the Sixers kept the pressure on the aging Celtics. Led by the super active Thaddeus Young, who had 8 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in the final quarter, the Sixers dominated in every phase. They won the rebounding (14-7), which allowed them to get out and run. They also forced the Celtics into 5 turnovers which led to 6 points. In contrast, the Sixers had 1 which didn't lead to any Boston points.
Andre Iguodala, who struggled offensively all evening, also scored 8 in the quarter, including five-straight that sealed the win.
With 1:22 remainin, Iguodala hit a step-back 16-footer for an 85-83 lead. On Boston's next possession, Rajon Rondo broke free from Jrue Holiday and appeared to have a clear layup on the left side of the basket. But Young drifted from his man at the foul line area and blocked the attempt. When Lou Williams then began to drive the lane, he found Iguodala open on the right wing for a three pointer which Iguodala drained for an 88-83 lead and securing another home game for the Sixers.
"When you're getting your butt kicked you've got to compete," said Williams, who finished with 15 points and 8 assists. "When we were down 18 the basket gets bigger because there's not a lot of pressure on the next shot."
When the Sixers were trying to close it out, pressure was everywhere. But the Sixers were the ones who played through it Friday. Iguodala and Turner led the Sixers with 16 points, while Young had 12 and Holiday 11. Lavoy Allen contributed 8 points and 10 rebounds in almost 33 minutes, plus tons of tough defense on Garnett.
How did it happen? Well, scoring 61 second half points compared to 31 in the first half helps. So does 22 field goals compared to 9 and allowing 37 points in the second half.
Hours later, the win is still head-scratching.
- Agreed. It looks more like he's throwing the shot put at a track meet and not a jump shot. Where's Herb McGee when you need him?
— bbinder71 - i'm gonna stick up for dc too. i have had my problems with him also, but dc is willing the sixers to victories right now. i don't like lou williams on defense. but i would use him early in games to attack the paint and get kg/rondo some early fouls.
- Our quietest stud of all: LaVoy Allen— Blue Hens Rule
- Boston was like a fighter that punched themselves out in the beginning of the fight and got knocked out in the 13th round.— fmMD
- It was as if the teams changed jerseys at halftime. Just amazing, this series is ours to lose. DC has the formular to beat these bums, now they just have to execute the gameplan...— lewisbratspis
- Not a head scratcher at all Bob. Look at the entirety of the game. 23% was not going to make 48 minutes and the Sixers - youth and superior ATHLETICISM clearly the difference as the game went deeper. Shame we can't go back Sunday as a worn out and thin Celtic team would be more vulnerable with less rest.— Northcountry
- Bearsfriend be postin' some great comments here. Sixers win on tough, physical, in-your-face D; along with a "we're not going to take your s**t" attitude. Visually the spacing between the Sixers D against the Beantowners shrunk noticeably. It's all about the effort. And it would be remiss not to note how classy the two coaches in this series are. That in itself was very refreshing on top of the big win. Now, pack that attitude and fortitude for the trip back to Boston.
- Watched the replay and i hope Jrue did also.It was not hard to see when the comeback started and that was when Lou replaced Jrue because of foul trouble.The ball(offense) immediately started moving as all became involved and the excessive(and time consuming) dribbling ceased as evidenced by Lou's 8 dimes to Jrues 1.
Not a dish on Jrue just a comment.
Just a comment in general.When a team dribbles a lot-not only does it slow down a game but it allows the other team to set up and also get a little rest while still on the court.
Again congrats to the coaches or not allowing them to give up.Heard Iggys interview today and again he gives a lot of credit to Aaron McKie for shaping his career-pretty nice.— HO HUM - Actually I didn't cringe with ET's bricking. The offense was stagnant in the first half and at least he was creating. Iggy seemed to be pacing himself (in retrospect, thankfully) Holiday was lost, Brand ineffective. ET for the most part was getting good looks, just pushing and aiming the ball, not releasing with an affirmative wrist and follow through of a confident shooter. They were all tentative until the tenacious D set up the running game and Lou hit some big shots— retzlaff
- Way back in the day, I played with guys like Turner; as Jim Lynam pointed out last night in the post game: feisty, in your face, constantly going inside and challenging the Celtics, the kind of player who stirs up both teams. He rushed his shots last night, but boarded, played solid defense, only 1 turnover, and kept his second half shots to a minimum (3/7), and DC went with him for 36 minutes, so kudos to DC. Very happy for the two most maligned Sixers on these boards: LouWill and Andre Iguodala, who were huge down the stretch, and kudos as well to Jodie Meeks (who I malign regularly) who calmly hit foul shot after foul shot and to Lavoy Allen. Who knew? Good to see Thad Young contribute, although Hawes was dreadful and Brand is clearly worn down. As for the extra day off, that helps both teams, as the Sixers can use a blow as well after expending an astonishing amount of energy in coming back as they did. Happiness man in the building had to be Joshua Harris, doubtless ecstatic over another home playoff game coming.— chuckw
- CAPS INTENTIONAL--I JUST BUMPED INTO SOMETHING THAT MANY IN HERE MAY LIKE.
I was on the ESPN SITE and it said watch replays.Well i followed the link and it took me to ESPN3--DOT--COM -and there--for almost any sport-high school college pro--and any time are the replays
of the events.
This is where the link takes you--http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/source/espn3/
What a great link.Hope it helps someone.— HO HUM - How many people thought the Sixers could win 6 playoff games? This is a gift this whole post season. And Lavoy Allen is a starter from here on out.— tommazza
- ET, Jrue and even young looked AWFUL for a large portion of that game... And they still won. Thank you Celltics for going to sleep early last night. Turner is due to go off. Sixers in 7?— sore richard
- Great game! I was at CBP, recorded the Sixers and only knew they were down 11 with 8 mins left in 3rd. I decided at midnight to stay up to watch the whole Sixers game from the start and nearly woke up the neighborhood watching the replay. Awesome!
I know the extra rest day helps the Celtics but who knows? perhaps the extra rest will let Brand get some treatment so he can be more effective. And thad might need 2 days worth of IV fluids after that effort.— phils_tnj1 
@celticsfan (if you really ARE a celtics fan) go away and dry up just like your wanna-bee basketball team. The Sixers were all but pummelled into submission and they came back to spank YOUR celtics. If they keep that up, get ready for the Eastern Conference contending Philadelphia 76ers!!!! GO SIXERS! Good win! Keep it up!
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
